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June, 1891.)
NOTICE OF THE GULABNAMA.
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Nath, and Faqir Näru'ddin Şahib, about the conclusion of peace, and they entrusted him with the negotiations. The Bibi şahiba, having been requested to give her opinion, not only approved of the decision arrived at by the above-named members of the darbár, but issued a parwána tu that effect under her special seal, with the signatures of all the Sardárs attached thereto. Accordingly the Mahârâjâ Gulab Singh started with several Sardars, vit., Diwan Dina Nath, Faqir Nûru'ddîn, Diwan Devi Sahaf and others, taking with them five paltans of Sikh troops, each private of which received five rupees. But as there were turbulent men among them, many had to be left behind, and only one company retained by the deputation arrived at Old Naushahra. The deputation continued its journey to the Governor-General's camp at Qaşûr, and when the members were at a distance of one kós from it, Sir Henry Lawrence, who was at that time Resident in Nepal (sic), came to invite them to proceed further. When they arrived, Sir Frederick Currie, Baronet, Chief Secretary, conducted them to the Governor-General's tent, who came out in person, shook hands, and took them in. When they were seated the Maharaja Gulab Singh explained how the Khalşa army had become so demoralised and insubordinate, as to venture upon hostilities, and expressed his hopes, that after what had taken place, tranquillity might again be restored, whereon the Governor-General declared that it would be necessary to pay - an indemnity of two karors of rapees, and to cede the Dôîb to the British government, but Gulab Singh rejoined that it would be impossible to raise such an enormous sum of money. Then Sir Frederick Currie and Sir Henry Lawrence took the Mahârâjâ aside, and politely reminded him, that as he had lost brothers and other dear relatives in these disturbances, there was no need of his espousing so warmly the cause of the Pañjab government, the more so as His Excellency the Governor-General desired to make him independent thereof, by constituting him sovereign of the Kohistan and Kasmir, with the title of Maharaja. Gulab Singh replied that the wish of His Excellency was a command to him, but that his relatives had been slain because they were cherished by the Pañjab government and had served it; that as the Maharaja Dalip Singh had not attained his majority, he had been deputed to treat with the Governor-General; and that if his lust for power and independence were to become injurious to the young sovereign, his own reputation and that of his descendants would be tarnished for ever. He begged His Excellency to keep in view the treaty of friendship with the late Maharaja Ranjit Siógh and to consider that Dalîp Singh was altogether guiltless of its infringement by the army. The said two gentlemen reported these words to the Governor-General, and after the negotiations had been protracted to a late hour of the night, an agreement was finally arrived at, that the Sikh government should pay one learôs and fifty lakhs of rupoes as an indemnity, and cede the Doab. Gulab Singh at last succeeded in getting his offer accepted, to pay fifty lákhs at once, and the remaining karór of rupees in three successive instalments, and the surrender of the Doâb. A desire for an interview with Dalip Singh having been expressed, Gulb Singh despatched a letter to that effect to the Bibi Şahiba, and accordingly the Maharaja Dalip Singh arrived the next day in a buggy, whereon a salate of artillery was fired, and the Governor-General presented both Dalip Singh and Gulab Singh with robes of honour.
Some difficulty arose concerning the entrance of English troops into LAhôr, to which Gulab Singh first demurred, but afterwards consented, the English having agreed to march again back to Firozpur after receiving the fifty lakhs of rupees promised to the Governor-General. The Bibi şahiba, however, made an arrangement with Lal Singh, and despatched a letter to the English authorities, informing them that he was her plenipotentiary, and that Gulab Singh had no power. Lal Singh accordingly became surety for the payment of the above sam, made arrangements for the stay of the English troops in Lahôr, and surrendered in lieu of the stipulated karór of rupees the districts on the other side of the Biyâs with Kangļâ, the Kōhistân, Kasmir, Hazara, and Chamba to remain for ever in the possession of the English, so that even Jammûn and other possessions of Guláb Singh fell into their power. Gulab Singh, not A little amazed at this transaction, immediately sent the Diwan JwAlA Sahai to Sir Henry
? i. e. on the British side.
